The Hermit

The Hermit (მომასწავებელი) is a lyrical and philosophical poem by Ilia Chavchavadze, Georgia’s pre-eminent 19th-century writer, statesman, and national thinker. This edition presents the first English translation by Marjory Scott Wardrop, restored and annotated for a modern audience, and offers a rare window into the soul of Georgian Romantic nationalism.

Initially written in 1883, The Hermit tells the story of a man who retreats into the wilderness, seeking truth and salvation in solitude. Through poetic introspection and a deep communion with nature, The Hermit reflects on injustice, human suffering, moral decay, and the burden of societal indifference. More than a personal lament, the poem serves as a call for moral awakening and national revival.

Marjory Wardrop’s translation, first produced in the 1890s but never widely circulated, captures both the emotional gravity and the spiritual texture of Chavchavadze’s Georgian verse. This new edition retains her stylistic grace while offering contextual footnotes, biographical background, and a foreword situating the work within Georgia’s cultural and political history.

Chavchavadze is often referred to as the “father of the Georgian nation” — a reformer, writer, and martyr whose life was dedicated to awakening national consciousness. The Hermit reflects the inner life of this mission: quiet, impassioned, and filled with both doubt and resolve.

This is not merely a poem, but a spiritual statement — of exile, faith, and the moral duty to speak when silence is easier.